The Wilmingtonian., 1887-01-15
The Defence of our Shores.

The Defence of our Shores.
c The most representative comm srcial ass,
] ciation in this country, the New York Chan
ber OF Commerce, has male definite NOV,
ment in the matter of demanding from Cor
J gress Immediate and adequate protection c
the seaports Of the Atlantic and Pacifl
coasts.
!. The Committee on Harbor Defence recon
mend the expenditure of $50 900, 600 in thi
important direction.
ln the committees rather vOluminous re
port Of Thursday last the following interest
ing statements are found:
The profound peace with which the connt
ry has been blessed for the past twenty years
while it has enabled the people and govern
ment of the land to pay off Indebtedness 10
CURED during our domestic troubles and tc
develop and increase the resources of the ma.
tion, has likewise withdrawn from due prom.
lneuce the Importance of being prepared foi
public defence should war with foreign ma.
ton unfortunately occur.
Briefly stated, in the opinion of your com
mittec the present position of affairs is as
| follows -
| That the acquisition at vast cost of naval
ships, heavy ordnance, projectiles, iron aud
steel armor has been made by foreign gov
ernpeIts far in excess of anything that has
been accomplished in that diiection by the
United States SO that it is doubtless within
the power OF a third or even fourth rate for
eign navy to play havoc with our commerce,
devastate our 'asts and place all our sea-
ports either under tribute CT compel them to
suffer the horrors of bombardment In the
case of war with Great Britain the Weland
Canal places our Northern lakes, with the
cities and property on their shores, under the
guns of the navy which that Power could
place there by this water route. In such an
event our motto would have to be trausposed
md literally be, "Millons for tribute, bul
not one cent for defence"
They consider that their duty as members
OF the Chamber lies in urging upon Congress
the immediate provision Of those parts Of the
proposed system Of defence which can be
made available within year and the com
mencement Of preparations for the manufac.
ture the high power steel guns, which will
require from three to five years for their
olmpleiior.
Your committee believe that with liberal
appropriations the system of torpedo defence
can within twelve months be made vastly
more effective than at present, aud if appro-
prations are made Immediately for the num-
ber of ndrd morlais contemplated in the
plans Of the Fertilization Boad that they
al,o can be provided and mounted in mortar
pits commanding channel within twelve
months from the tune the appropriation is
made available They appreciate tie in
portance of high power gnus Of large cali
bre, set iecoguize the fact that ,ven the linn.
tied number Of such guns proposed, togeth-
er with the arrnored fonts, which are indis.
pensable to the proper use and protection o
such guns, cannot possibly be constructed
within from four to six years. Therefore II
is all the more essential that the torpedo and
mortar systems before urged be perfected
and made. available at the earliest possible
moment. If these be supplemented by a
squadron of steam rams, of simple yet
very effective construction, our citizens
might rest confident of being placed at an
early day in a position of comparative
safety, and of relief from the disgraceful
of paying tribute or suffering the
disasters of bumba rdment without the hon
orable and patriotic satisfaction of having |
made some attempt at defence, even if the |
Secretary of War should, as in the time OF |
the Trent trouble. telegraph that New
York must look out for herself" j
Your committee believe that a true under |
standing by the people of the interior States
and cities of the coast, defenceless against |
foreign attack, would cause their attitude OF |
passive indifference to the necessity of coast |
defence to be changed to one of active de- 4
mand for such protection. The billions OF
trea ure and movable wealth accumulated |
in the great cities on the seacoast and es-
p .cially at New York, are not the sole prop
erty of the immediate residents of these
cities. In case OF foreign attack no dscrim. |
inatiOn would be made as to the owner Of |
the property. Probably an amount more
than equal to that belonging to the residents
Df our own city is held here in trust and on |
deposit, the property Of non-residents, largely
those residing in tie interior Of our own |
country. Your committee believe that this |
view should be impressed in all proper ways
upon the citzeps of all other States and up